Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Medium

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Medium

TOUR SNAPSHOT

Tour snapshot

If you only have one day in St. Petersburg, make sure you really get to know one of the world’s grandest cities with a local guide who can show you all the unmissable sights, while letting you into a few secret spots along the way. Take a stroll down the city’s picturesque main shopping street, home of several stunning palaces, cathedrals, and one of the biggest art galleries in the world. Get a taste for Russian food at a popular local café, and finish your day at arguably the must-see attraction in a city full of them: the beautiful Metro. And because we want to make seeing this city totally easy for you, no Russian visa needed!

Highlights

Promenade through the picturesque Nevsky Prospekt and discover some of St Petersburg’s cultural ‘big-hitters’ such as the Hermitage and Stroganov Palace

Learn the basics of Russian cuisine as you sample delicious home cooking in a café popular with locals

Meander through the oldest food market in the city, gathering delicious morsels from around the world as you go

Explore the striking grandeur of the famous St. Petersburg Metro and visit the Eiffel-tower inspired Vitebsky railway station

Language: English

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, Visa-free ticket, port entrance fee, public transport fare, round-trip transfer from the port to the city centre, lunch.

Schedule details

Duration: 5 hours

Meeting point:

Port terminal gate (look for the Urban Adventures sign). You must provide your ship name and passport details (name, number, expiry date, citizenship) at least 48 hours before the tour. Failure to do so means you cannot get visa-free access into Russia.

what3words gives every 3m x 3m in the world a unique 3 word address. This one describes the precise meeting point for this tour. Click here to learn more.

Starting time: 11.30 AM

Ending point:

Port terminal gate.

FULL ITINERARY

Important Note: You must let us know in advance the name of your cruise ship, your passport number and expiry date, date of birth, citizenship, your full name as it appears on your passport, and your email address. You can do so in the “Additional Information” box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@stpetersburgubanadventures.com. Note that we must have your full pick-up information at least 48 hours before the tour starts. Failure to submit this information means we will not be able to grant you visa-free access into Russia.

Your day will begin in one of the most famous squares in the world, the vast and spectacular Palace Square. Home to the azure and white-tinged Winter Palace and the stunning pink pastel-coloured Hermitage (the world’s second-largest art museum), the scale and the beauty of this area will really take your breath away.

We will then amble our way through Nevsky Prospekt, the city’s main thoroughfare. There are more cultural gems here than you can shake a stick at! Highlights include the perfectly pink Stroganov Palace, the neoclassical Kazan Cathedral, the Anichkov bridge with its imposing horse statues, and the Great Gostiny Dvor 18th-century shopping mall. Your guide will fill you in with all the need-to-know history of the area.

We will stop for a traditional Russian lunch in one of the dozens of restaurants that line the avenue. Expect bliny, borscht, and plenty of pickles. Learn more about the lives of locals in St. Petersburg and find out why it is unlucky to walk on the left side of the road!

After lunch we will visit the oldest food market in the city. Literature fans will delight in this epic historic marketplace which has featured in several works by eminent Russian novelist and philosopher Fyodor Dostoyevsky, whose apartment is just around the corner.

Using public transport in big cities is often a rather dull affair but riding the Metro in St. Petersburg is, rather unusually, one of the city’s most unmissable attractions. This will be our next stop and you will feel as though you have stepped into a palace, as the architecture is so grand. We will visit the Vitebsky railway station, the first of its kind in the old Russian empire and inspired by Gustav Eiffel’s famous tower in Paris.

After you have taken enough pictures to fill the walls of a Tsarist pleasure palace, your local guide will be happy to answer any questions you may have and take you back to the boat.

Please note that this tour will only run with a minimum of two travellers. If you are unable to book your selected date, that’s because there are not yet two travellers booked for that departure. Please select another date or email us at info@stpetersburgurbanadventures.com to find out which days are guaranteed to depart. We apologise for the inconvenience. If you are booking this tour for more than just one traveller, the minimum rule won’t affect you and you are free to book any date!

Additional information

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, Visa-free ticket, port entrance fee, public transport fare, round-trip transfer from the port to the city centre, lunch.

Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Additional Information: For this tour, you must supply the following information at least 48 hours before the tour start time: your passport number; your full name as it appears on your passport; your passport expiry date; your date of birth; your citizenship; the name of your cruise ship; and your email address. You can provide this information in the “Additional Information” box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@stpetersburgurbanadventures.com. Failure to submit this information means we will not be able to grant you visa-free access into Russia.
Please note: due to temporary changes to visa requirements initiated by the Government during the FIFA World Cup (14th June - 15th July 2018), this tour must be booked at least 7 days in advance. We will require your passport details and the name of the cruise ship you will be travelling with no less than 7 days prior to your arrival so we can submit the information to the immigration authorities. You can do this by emailing us at info@stpetersburgurbanadventures.com

Child Policy: Travellers under 12 years of age are not permitted to join this tour.

Dietary Notes

Please advise us in advance of any food allergies or dietary requirements. You can do so in the “Additional Information” box at checkout or by emailing us at info@stpetersburgurbanadventures.com.